2008 was an excellent year for the Sony Playstation 3. After 3 years of being beaten up (some would even use the word “raped”) by its competitors, the Nintendo Wii and the Microsoft Xbox 360, the PS3 bounced back with strong exclusives and verified hits like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Little Big Planet.

What’s in store for the Sony Plastation 3 in the months to come? Will the schedule of PS3 releases continue the momentum established by the company in 2008? Will 2009, and even 2010, be the period when Sony regains the throne it was forced to surrender? Will 2009, and even 2010, be the period when Sony will actually realize some profit for their video game console?

Let us take a closer look at the PS3 releases for the said period which possess the highest likelihood of becoming blockbusters for the system.

1. God of War III. Of all the PS3 releases forthcoming, this is the surest hit. Kratos has become Sony’s flagship character. He’s too much of a tough guy to be considered as a mascot, and his adventures aren’t necessarily what we can consider as “wholesome.” Nevertheless, God of War III is THE PS3 release that is destined to sell a lot of Playstation 3 units.

2. DC Universe Online. Think of a persistent world where you can be a hero or a villain, interacting with other real players playing heroes and villains as well as popular characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the likes. DC Universe Online is poised to be Sony’s flagship MMORPG, created by the same people who brought us Everquest and Everquest II. It is a PS3 release worth waiting for.

3. Massive Action Game (MAG). With 256-player simultaneous action, it isn’t surprising why Sony is high on this upcoming PS3 release. Sadly, the rest of the video game industry isn’t as enthusiastic given the recent videos and previews released for the game.

4. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The first Uncharted was a sleeper hit for Sony. The second one will be 20 times better, and with multiplayer action to boot. Think of the lovechild of the Tomb Raider franchise and the Metal Gear Solid games and you’d get an idea what this forthcoming PS3 release is all about.

5. EyePet. This PS3 release will be a make or break for the system’s EyeToy peripheral. The last (and only) game that made use of the accessory was Eye of Judgment. Will a virtual pet-style title be enough to make the peripheral a good investment for PS3 owners?

6. Gran Turismo 5. Assuming it is released. As it stands, GT5 should’ve been delivered 2 years ago.

7. Ratchet And Clank: A Crack In Time. A Ratchet and Clank game is destined to sell a lot of copies, but not as many copies that would paint the game as a blockbuster. Of all the PS3 releases, this is the most bankable. However, it is not expected to be a system defining title.

8. Heavy Rain. The only game similar to this upcoming PS3 release is Fahrenheit for the PS2, and that game didn’t fare well. Will this game prove to be the breakout title for the new engine the adventure genre?

2009 is poised to become a big, big year for the Sony Playstation 3. In fact, this early, Sony is already dubbing this as the year that the Playstation brand has returned to prominence. 2009 marked the first time that the Sony PS3 beat the Microsoft Xbox 360 in terms of sales. 2009 also marked the first time, albeit for a fleeting moment, that the Nintendo Wii was dislodged from the top of the Japanese sales charts, also by the Sony Playstation 3.

With big games about to be released come the fourth quarter of this year, 2009 is going to be bigger for Sony Entertainment.

But the games that are expected for the Sony Playstation 3 for this holiday season have been expected for more than a year now. They come as no surprise. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, MAG, Tekken 6, Modern Warfare 2, Assassin’s Creed 2. Rock Band: Beatles, Brutal Legend… these are big time titles that are already in the purchase schedule of most Sony PS3 owners.

But what lies beyond 2009 for the Sony Playstation 3?

What are the big games that will define the console in 2010?

Here are 3 of the hottest franchises that will land on the Sony Playstation 3, and all of them are going to be certified blockbusters.

1. God of War III (March, 2010). What has become Sony’s flagship property is coming to the Sony Playstation 3 for the first and the last time. The third installment of the storied franchise will have Kratos, the god of war, battling the forces of the Underworld and the wrath of vindictive gods in worlds carved at the back of the long banished Titans. Yes, ENTIRE worlds on the surface of the back of Titans… this is how big the scale of the third game is. The technical demo shown had the camera panning in and out – with no loss in frame rate – to reveal Kratos killing some monsters in a forest-rich environment one moment, and the back of a slowly moving Titan the next. God of War III is expected to be one of the hottest selling titles for 2010, and this early, it is being billed as a Game of the Year (GOTY) favorite.

2. Final Fantasy XIV (2010, right after the release of FF XIII). Final Fantasy XI was the first MMORPG of the Final Fantasy franchise. It was released 7 years ago, and up to this writing, it still boasts of more than 2 million active subscribers – a number that is envied by newly released and more technologically advanced MMOPRGs today. The next MMORPG for the franchise is scheduled to be released in 2010. Final Fantasy XIV Online, as of this time, is pegged as a Sony Playstation3 exclusive.

3. Heavy Rain. This Sony Playstation 3 games displays some of the most impressive graphics ever seen in a video game. Much of the action will be quick time events. But they are intense! Heavy Rain is a story-driven title that puts you in the shoes of a detective that is investigating a mystery that can change all of existence. Truly, Heavy Rain is one of the most anticipated Sony Playstation 3 games for 2010.

So, what’s the biggest PS3 news from the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2009?

Final Fantasy XIII? Old news. Besides, it’s not even exclusive to the Sony PS3 anymore.

God of War 3? Everyone knew it was coming, sooner or later. Also, a video of Kratos climbing the back of a Titan has been making the rounds since late in 2008.

Gran Turismo 5? Hardly. The Prologue has been in the market for more than 2 years now. It’s about time that the real deal will be released.

The biggest piece of PS3 news from E3 is something that was only mentioned in passing – advertently or inadvertently – during the introduction of footages for Final Fantasy XIII.

The biggest PS3 news from E3 is this: Final Fantasy XIV is DEFINITELY coming in 2010. Some still shots of the game were shown, and they look fantastic!

Final Fantasy XIII is scheduled to be released stateside in spring of 2010. This means that, soon afterwards, the fourteenth installment of the highly successful series will soon be released afterwards. The question in many fans’ minds is this: wouldn’t both Final Fantasy installments cannibalize each other? After all, isn’t it unwise to release 2 products that you own and make them compete with each other for the same audience share?

Alas, here’s the clincher: Final Fantasy XIV will be a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), much like Final Fantasy XI. In fact, Final Fantasy XIV is poised to be the next great MMORPG for Play Online, Square-Enix’ pay-per-play division.

To fully appreciate the magnitude of this PS3 news, it must be noted that Final Fantasy XI is the first ever console MMORPG. Final Fantasy XI is also the first MMORPG to go cross-platform, appearing on the PS2, the PC, and the Xbox 360. It continues to be a highly popular MMORPG to this very day, more than 7 years from its original release.

From the brief trailer that was shown, people seemed to be convinced that Final Fantasy XIV is truer to the spirit of the series than Final Fantasy XI ever was.

Also, it was promised that Final Fantasy XIV will be a Sony Playstation 3 exclusive. Whether or not such means that it is an exclusive “exclusive,” or whether or not such is merely a timed exclusive, remains to be seen. But the sheer impact of this bit of Sony PS3 news cannot be denied: people will be going online on 2010 just to complete their Final Fantasy experience.

Will Final Fantasy XIV be the World of Warcraft-killer that video game enthusiasts have been waiting for? If it is, then that would be the biggest piece of PS3 news for the millennium!

Who said that the Sony PS3 is dead?  The fiscal year 2008-2009 has been a banner period for the system, what with a lineup of Sony Playstation 3 games that shook up the industry.  Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2, Resistance 2 and Little Big Planet stood toe-to-toe with the best that the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii offered.

And fiscal year 2009-2010 will be no different.

In fact, with the announced lineup of Sony Playstation 3 games for the said period, the console may actually pull off some big surprises in the sales charts.  Next year’s number one console in terms of sales may actually be a Sony product once again.

What are the Sony Playstation 3 games to watch out for in 2009-2010?

1. God of War III.  Kratos is coming back for one last adventure – so says Sony.  God of War III is one of the most anticipated Playstation 3 games for this year, and it is one of the most anticipated Playstation 3 games of all time.  Expect Kratos’ last adventure, and ironically his first on the PS3, to push the limits of what the console can do.

2. Trico.  Think of the original Ico mixed with Shadows of the Colossus and you’ll get an idea of what this game is all about.  Trico features a boy who, instead of cooperating with a damsel in distress, has to work with a giant hybrid of a cat and a bird.  Scaling the giant hybrid is much akin to scaling the titans of Shadows of the Colossus, only this time, you’ll be climbing the body of a friend instead of a foe.

3. MAG.  MAG stands for Massive Action Game, and such title is quite appropriate.  Of all the Sony Playstation 3 games that are coming our way, MAG is the biggest as it features a 256-player battlefield over the internet.  The previous record in the 62-player cooperative death match in Resistance 2.

4. Metal Gear Solid: Rising.  Not really an exclusive, but big news nonetheless.  The newest installment in the MGS franchise will feature Raiden – who became an instant fan favorite in MGS4 by having his entire body transformed into cybernetic parts so that he can become a super ninja.

5. Final Fantasy XIV.  The most shocking announcement in E3 2009.  Final Fantasy XIV is coming in 2010.  It is a Sony PS3 exclusive.  And it will be an MMORPG, much like Final Fantasy XI.

6. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.  Uncharted 2 is the melting pot of many Playstation 3 games, and even some Xbox 360 games.  It features the exploratory and platforming elements of Tomb Raider, the cover system of Gears of War, the environments of MGS4, and the multiplayer excitement of Killzone 2.  Sold!

7. The Agent.  Rockstar Games, developers of the legendary Grand Theft Auto series, has confirmed that it is building an exclusive for the Sony PS3.  Entitled simply as Agent, the game isn’t expected to be a sandbox-style adventure like GTA.  Rather, it is said to resemble the look, feel and game play of Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid.  Not bad, considering that the aforementioned Sony Playstation 3 games are considered as classics.

When it comes to Sony’s flagship electronic entertainment product, Playstation 3 rumors are just as big and as exciting as actual Playstation 3 news.  This is because Sony has a history of wanting to please its loyal fan base.  In Sony Land, rumors have a higher likelihood of becoming reality.

So, what are the biggest Playstation 3 rumors for 2010?

1.  The PS3 slim.  Of all the Playstation 3 rumors, this is the most verifiable.  Leaks of images involving a slimmer, smaller Sony Playstation 3 leaked online right before the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2009, the biggest video game trade exhibit today.  Many believed that the PS3 slim would be unveiled at E3.  E3 has come and gone and Sony has kept mum on the veracity of the PS3 slim.  Is it a fact?  Or is it mere speculation?  Smart money is on the former.

2. The great PS3 price drop.  There are many Playstation 3 rumors, but none is as persistent as this one.  A PS3 price drop has been running amok in the grapevine ever since the rather expensive Sony Playstation 3 was released.  But Sony is claiming that it’s losing money in producing the console, hence killing every hope for a price cut in the near future.  Nevertheless, given the undeniable fact that the Sony PS3 is trailing in sales charts all over the world, a price drop is not entirely ruled out.  Sony has to increase the installed base for the PS3 quick, and a price cut is the fastest and the surest way to accomplish this.

3. The God of War III Collector’s Edition to feature God of War I and II playable on the Sony PS3.  This not really a rumor.  In a survey released by Sony, the company asked people what they wanted for the God of War III Collector’s Edition.  One of the choices is a special disc that contains the first 2 installments of the series, which can be played on the Sony PS3.  Naturally, this choice won.  Will it be included in the release of the special edition of the game?  Only time will tell.  But this speculation is actually composed of two Playstation 3 rumors.  The second one is this…

4. Backward compatibility with Sony Playstation 2 to be brought back for the Sony PS3.  If Sony can offer God of War I and II for the PS3, does this mean that backwards compatibility with the PS2 is actually hidden in the PS3?  It can be recalled that the older series of PS3 consoles actually had full PS2 backward compatibility.  Latter releases had limited backward compatibility as powered by software emulation.  Current releases have done away with this feature altogether, much to the chagrin of fans all over the world.  This jacked up the price of the first series of PS3 releases in the secondary market.  Could it be that the PS3 is merely “hiding” backwards compatibility – that it has always been there all this time?

Now, the question is: which of these Sony Playstation 3 rumors will come true first?

Even the so-called “fanboys” would agree, the Sony Playstation 3 has been trailing the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360 in terms of sales since the day the PS3 was launched.  Sony promised consumers that it will regain the market leadership by the end of 2007 – a leadership it once enjoyed with the Playstation 2 (PS2) – but it didn’t happen, mainly because of the lack of console-defining exclusives.  Sonly promised consumers that 2008 will be the PS3’s year, but this didn’t materialize despite strong showings from Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4) and Little Big Planet.

And now, Sony has once again promised that 2009 will be the glory year of the PS3.

Its patrons are becoming impatient.  Industry experts believe that 2009 is the “make or break” year for the PS3.  2009, they say, is the year that will either mark the PS3 as a worthy entry to Sony’s series of console excellence, or brand the PS3 as a market failure despite its clearly superior engineering.

For 2009, the PS3 is banking on 5 key titles that it hopes will finally bring the console to the top of the sales charts.  These games are:

1.  Killzone 2.  Released last February, Killzone 2 – one of the PS3’s most hyped games, which the industry has eagerly awaited since 2004 – is well on its way to saving Sony’s reputation as a leader in the video game market.  The title sold 2 million copies on its first month, a feat that is truly fascinating for a game which is exclusive to a single console.

2. God of War 3.  Since its first installment, Kratos has quickly become the poster boy for Sony, and God of War has quickly become the flagship title for the company’s gaming division.  No matter how bleak things look when it comes to sales, Sony can always be comforted by the fact that the next God of War is just around the corner.

3. Final Fantasy XIII.  The PS3 lost big time when Square-Enix decided to publish FFXIII on the Xbox 360 as well, at least in areas outside Japan.  The next installment of the blockbuster Final Fantasy series will still be exclusive to the PS3 in its country of origin, and this will most certainly help boost the sales for the console.  Outside Japan, FFXIII may still win some console sales, as the Final Fantasy franchise has long been associated with Sony’s machines and given the long playtime provided by the game, issues on the Xbox 360’s engineering reliability may force buyers to choose the PS3 version.

4. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.  Its predecessor, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, was the first “must buy” exclusive for the PS3.  The sequel, which is said to combine elements of Gears of War, Tomb Raider, and FPS multiplayer mayhem, will be a hundred times better than the original.  Gamers are excited about Uncharted 2, and this will reflect on the PS3 console sales.

5. Massive Action Game (MAG).  Forget Resistance 2’s 64-player team death matches.  Prepare for a truly wide scale war with MAG, one that will involve up to 256 players at the same time.  Little is known about the game, however.  If it lives up to its promises, it can be the PS3 title that will make other FPS multiplayer games obsolete.  If it doesn’t, it will be the Kane and Lynch of 2009.

Will these games finally catapult the Sony PS3 to the throne it once owned unchallenged?

Only time, and your gaming dollar, will tell.